SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO BURGLARY IN PROGRESS IN COPAKE
COPAKE, N.Y.: Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that 22 year old Jason O’Connell Jr., of Robin Road Copake NY, has been arrested and charged with one count of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class D Felony) and one count of Petit Larceny (Class A Misdemeanor).
On Tuesday April 4th, 2017, at about 12:22pm, Deputy Sheriff Samantha Plass was dispatched by Columbia County 911 to a burglary in progress at 33 Spring Street in the Town of Copake. The building was a vacant residence that was being used by the owner to store property. Prior to the Deputies arrival, it was reported that the suspect had fled in a vehicle.
The Deputy and Sheriff’s Office Investigators found that the property owner had confronted Mr. O’Connell while he was removing items from the house and the suspect had already placed some of the property in his vehicle. Several of the items taken consisted of hunting and fishing gear. There was an altercation between the home owner and the suspect and that’s when the suspect fled in his vehicle.
The property owner was able to gain the plate number and description of the vehicle, which returned to a residence on Robin Road in the Town of Copake. Mr. O’Connell was located at this address. Investigators had later interviewed him at the Sheriff’s Office to determine his involvement in the burglary and subsequently placed him under arrest. All the property taken from the house is believed to have been recovered.
He was arraigned in Copake Town Court before the Honorable Judge Spencer and was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail/$20,000 bond. The defendant is scheduled to appear back in Copake Court on April 17, 2017 at 5:00pm.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Police.
Investigating for the Sheriff’s Office were Investigator Patrick Logue, Investigator Reagan Anderson, and Deputy Samantha Plass.
Sheriff’s Office Uniformed Patrol Deputies and Criminal Investigators are following up on several vehicle larcenies that have occurred in this area recently and anyone with information should call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at (518)828-3344.